Summertime ~ Demonstrating two clarinets: Pruefer "Silver Throat" Bb, and BLACK • HOLE C-clarinet

The purpose of this video is to demonstrate unique clarinets that I restore and fine-tune. I play an improv on “Summertime”, first on my 1942 Pruefer Silver Throat Bb. Then I switch to my BLACK • HOLE key-of-C clarinet (same fingering, sounding a whole-step higher).
Both clarinets are of "large-bore" design, made of ebonite (hard rubber). They are finely-tuned and improved in my Santa Fe workshop, optimized for easy-blowing and some easier fingering options. I call them "user friendly". If you are a clarinetist, you'll appreciate this, especially if you also play saxophone.
In the video, I demonstrate three "alternate" fingerings, that are not generally taught, because they work poorly on most clarinets. I demonstrate the top trill keys B and C, to show how good I've made them sound. They are in-tune and tonally consistent, effectively extending the clarinet's delicate and expressive "throat" range. They provide easy fingering options, like the palm keys on a sax. (I developed hole and pad modifications to make this work without de-tuning other notes.) I also demonstrate Eb using the RT forefinger, familiar to all sax and flute players. It plays sharp on most clarinets, and the linkage doesn't always work well.
You can watch these fingerings in slow motion, by hitting the Settings gear symbol on the TH-cam window, then select a slow speed.
In both instruments I slightly enlarge the bore in the barrel and the top of the upper joint. This darkens the tone and strengthens the throat tones and refines the thumb-Bb. It helps the tuning between registers. It also makes the horn compatible with softer reeds, for reduced blowing pressure. I select vintage mouthpieces that work especially well with large-bore instruments. I use soft Hartmann Fiberreed Carbon Classic or Fibracell synthetic reeds.
For details, read THE USER-FRIENDLY CLARINET at www.windydankoff.com/black-hol...